Transfer case pump bracket

ABSTRACT

The transfer case pump bracket for use with a fluid pump in a transfer case of a vehicle is at least partially received within a pump cavity between the transfer case and the fluid pump. The transfer case pump bracket comprises a base member and one or more support members extending from the base member. The base member is configured to be positioned between the fluid pump and the transfer case when the fluid pump is assembled to the transfer case with the support members being adapted to be received within an indent portion of the pump cavity to at least partially inhibit the fluid pump from contacting the transfer case proximate the indent portion of the pump cavity.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

The present application claims priority of U.S. provisional applicationSer. No. 60/811,955, filed Jun. 8, 2006, by Michael T. Black forTRANSFER CASE PUMP BRACKET, which is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a bracket for use with a fluid pumpin a transfer case of a vehicle.

Transfer cases are integral components of the drive train of four wheeldrive and all wheel drive vehicles. Power from the transmission isdelivered to the transfer case, which in turn transmits power to boththe front and rear axles. Transfer cases include an outer housing, suchas a cast housing, and numerous internal parts, such as moving partslike gears that require lubrication. Lubrication of the internalcomponents is accomplished by way of an internal fluid pump that drawsin and pumps out fluid from the sealed transfer case.

In the case of a General Motors model 246GM transfer case, for example,the fluid pump is positioned within an internal cavity formed in thecast housing and is driven by a rotating shaft. Although the pump isconstrained within the cast housing of the transfer case, rotation ofthe shaft causes slight movement of the fluid pump relative to the casthousing. This relative movement causes wear to the cast housing and, dueto its relatively thin and softer walls, can frequently result in one ormore holes or openings being undesirably formed in the cast housing.Such holes result in the internal lubrication fluid leaking from thetransfer case, which in turn can result in severe damage to the internalcomponents of the transfer case.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for a means to prevent theformation of holes in the transfer case housing caused by wear fromrelative movement of the fluid pump.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a bracket for use in a transfer case. Thebracket is positionable adjacent or between portions of the transfercase fluid pump and the transfer case housing to inhibit wearing of thehousing from relative movement of the fluid pump caused by an outputshaft that drives the fluid pump. According to an aspect of the presentinvention, a bracket for use with a fluid pump that is at leastpartially received within a pump cavity of a transfer case comprises abase member and at least one support member extending from the basemember. The base member is adapted to being positioned between the fluidpump and the transfer case when the fluid pump is assembled to thetransfer case. The at least one support member is receivable within anindent portion of the pump cavity and is adapted to at least partiallyinhibit the fluid pump from contacting the transfer case proximate theindent portion of the pump cavity.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a bracket for usewith a fluid pump that is at least partially received within a pumpcavity of a transfer case comprises a base member and four supportmembers extending from the base member. The base member is generallyring shaped and includes a generally circular outer perimeter and isadapted to being positioned between the fluid pump and the transfer casewhen the fluid pump is assembled to the transfer case. The supportmembers each include a tab member and a wall member, with the wallmembers being oriented generally perpendicular relative to the tabmembers. Each support member is adapted to be received within an indentportion of the pump cavity with the support members being adapted to atleast partially inhibit lug portions of the fluid pump from contactingthe transfer case proximate the indent portions of the pump cavity.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a bracket for usewith a fluid pump that is at least partially received within a pumpcavity of a transfer case comprises a base member and at least onesupport member integrally formed with the base member. The base memberis adapted to be positioned between at least a portion of the fluid pumpand the transfer case when the fluid pump is assembled to the transfercase. The at least one support member is receivable within an indentportion of the pump cavity and is adapted to at least partially inhibitthe fluid pump from contacting the transfer case proximate the indentportion of the pump cavity.

The bracket of the present invention is adapted for installation intothe pump cavity of a transfer case housing such that the bracket ispositioned adjacent or between the housing and a fluid pump used tolubricate internal components of the transfer case. Support members onthe bracket are positionable within indent portions of the pump cavityand are adapted to receive or engage projections or lugs on the fluidpump when the fluid pump is positioned into the pump cavity. When sopositioned, the fluid pump lugs of the fluid pump are inhibited by thebracket support members from contacting the housing. The bracket therebyinhibits wear of the transfer case housing that may otherwise occur dueto relative movement of the fluid pump against the housing caused by anoutput shaft of the transfer case that drives the fluid pump. Further,the bracket aids in preventing holes from being formed in the housingthat would enable the lubrication fluid within the transfer case to leakout and result in damage to the internal components of the transfercase.

These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of thisinvention will become apparent upon review of the followingspecification in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bracket in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the bracket of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the bracket of FIG. 1 shownpositioned within the pump cavity of a housing of a transfer case;

FIG. 4 is a top persepctive view of a fluid pump positioned in the pumpcavity and received by the bracket of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an interior perspective view of a transfer case housingdisclosing the pump cavity without the bracket of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an exterior perspective view of the transfer case housing ofFIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of the exterior portion of thetransfer case housing of FIG. 6 illustrating the exterior area of thepump cavity of FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of a transfer case fluid pump removedfrom the transfer case;

FIG. 9 is an opposite side plan view of the fluid pump of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another bracket in accordance with thepresent invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described with reference to theaccompanying figures, wherein the numbered elements in the followingwritten description correspond to like-numbered elements in the figures.A bracket 20 is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 that, as shown in FIG. 3,is adapted for installation into a pump cavity 22 of a housing orhousing portion 24 of a transfer case 26 such that the bracket 20 may bedisposed between the housing 24 and a fluid pump 28 when the fluid pump28 is installed to the transfer case housing 24 as illustrated in FIG.4.

A shaft or output shaft or drive shaft (not shown), which rotates toprovide driving motion to the vehicle, is engagingly connected to fluidpump 28 to rotate or drive fluid pump 28 such that internal lubricatingfluid (not shown) may be drawn into and pumped out of the fluid pump 28.Fluid pump 28 is inhibited or constrained from rotating within pumpcavity 22 by projections or lugs 30 on fluid pump 28 interacting withindent portions or sockets 32 of pump cavity 22. Without bracket 20,however, lugs 30 of fluid pump 28 are caused to contact housing 24adjacent indent portions 32 in response to rotation of the output shaft.The repeated contacting of lugs 30 against housing 24, causes wear whichmay result in the formation of holes 34 (FIG. 7).in housing 24.

As described in more detail below, bracket 20 is constructed tosubstantially inhibit the fluid pump 28 from contacting the housing 24adjacent indent portions 32 to inhibit wear caused by relative movementof the fluid pump 28 against the housing 24. Bracket 20, therefore, aidsin preventing holes from being formed in the housing 24 that would allowthe lubrication fluid within the transfer case 26 to leak out and,subsequently, result in damage to the internal components of thetransfer case 26.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the illustrated bracket 20 isconstructed to have a generally ring-shaped configuration and includes abase member 36 and four support members 38 that extend generallyradially outwardly from a generally circular outer periphery 40 of basemember 36. The base member 36 also includes a generally circular innerperiphery 42, which defines an opening or hole 44 in base member 36.Opening 44, as described in more detail below, enables an output shaft(not shown) to engage and drive fluid pump 28. As disclosed in FIG. 2,outer periphery 40 and inner periphery 42 may form slightlynon-concentric circles. Base member 36 also includes cutouts 46, 48 withcutouts 46, 48 being located and sized to align and match to similarlyshaped cutouts located on fluid pump 28, as described in more detailbelow.

Each support member 38 includes a tab member 50 and a bumper member 52formed as a wall member 54. Tab members 50 are substantially coplanarwith base member 36, with wall members 54 being oriented generallyperpendicular to tab members 50 and defining planes that areapproximately radially aligned with base member 36. As disclosed in FIG.2, support members 38 are asymmetrically disposed about outer periphery40. Specifically, support members 38 a and 38 b are separated byapproximately 75 degrees about an arc defined by outer periphery 40,support members 38 b and 38 c are separated by approximately 60 degrees,support members 38 c and 38 d are separated by approximately 120degrees, and support members 38 d and 38 a are separated byapproximately 105 degrees.

In the illustrated embodiment, bracket 20 is constructed from 0.036 inchthick sheet metal that is laser cut, with wall members 54 beingsubsequently deformed or bent into the orientation noted above. Bracket20 may then be plated or anodized, or the like, to inhibit corrosion. Itshould be appreciated however, that bracket 20 may alternatively bestamped or constructed from alternative materials, such as stainlesssteel or aluminum, for example. An alternative bracket may even beformed of a molded or machined plastic or polymeric material.

As previously noted, bracket 20 is adapted for positioning within thepump cavity 22 of a transfer case 26. Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, amodel 246GM transfer case produced by or for the General MotorsCorporation of Detroit, Mich. is partially illustrated. Transfer case 26includes housing 24 having an internal region 56 for retaining internalcomponents, such as gears and lubricating fluid (not shown), and isformed from a cast magnesium material.

Pump cavity 22 forms a generally circular receptacle within internalregion 56 and includes four sockets or indent portions 32 forrestraining motion of fluid pump 28, as described below. Indent portions32 are asymmetrically positioned about pump cavity 22 in similar mannerto the positioning of support members 38 about outer periphery 40 ofbracket 20, as described above. A ledge or shelf 58 is located withinpump cavity 22 for supporting a portion of fluid pump 28 when assembledto transfer case 26. Extending from pump cavity 22 is a channel orpassage 60 enabling a fluid inlet tube (not shown) to be connected tothe fluid pump 28.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, fluid pump 28 is also generally circularand is designed to be installed within pump cavity 22, as shown in FIG.3. Fluid pump 28 includes four lugs or projections 30 extendinggenerally radially outwardly from a flange portion 62 of the fluid pump28. Lugs 30 are asymmetrically positioned about fluid pump 28 in similarmanner to the positioning of support members 38 about outer periphery 40of bracket 20, as described above. A central drive hole 64 is adapted toreceive an output shaft for driving fluid pump 28. In addition, fluidpump 28 also includes several apertures or cutouts 66, 68, 70, two ofthe cutouts 66, 68 being located on flange 62 that may enablelubricating fluid to flow there through. Fluid pump 28 also includes afirst plate 72 (FIG. 8) and a second plate 74 (FIG. 9) that are heldtogether and retain the internal components (not shown) of fluid pump 28by fasteners 76. An inlet nozzle 78 (FIG. 8) is adapted to align withchannel 60 of housing 24 such that an inlet tube may be affixed tonozzle 78 for drawing lubricating fluid from a low spot or poolinglocation or reservoir (not shown) within the transfer case 26.

Referring again to FIG. 3, bracket 20 is adapted to be positioned withinpump cavity 22 with base member 36 located on ledge 58 and supportmembers 38 positioned within indent portions 32. Due to the asymmetricalorientation of support members 38 and indent portions 32, bracket 20 mayonly be positioned within pump cavity 22 in the proper orientation. Whenbracket 20 is so positioned, tab members 50 are disposed on the portionof ledge 58 extending into indent portions 32 and wall members 54 extendgenerally perpendicularly from the surface of ledge 58 and arepositioned adjacent a sidewall of indent portion 32.

Fluid pump 28 may then be installed to pump cavity 22 such that bracket20 is positioned between fluid pump 28 and housing 24. As discussedabove, lugs 30 of fluid pump 28 are adapted to align with indentportions 32 when fluid pump 28 is installed within pump cavity 22. Dueto the asymmetrical orientation of lugs 30 and indent portions 32, fluidpump 28 may also only be positioned within pump cavity 22 in the properorientation. FIG. 4 illustrates that cutouts 66, 68 of fluid pump 28align with cutouts 46, 48 of bracket 20, respectively, such that, forexample, lubricating fluid may flow there through. Although not shown,fluid pump 28 is retained in position within pump cavity 22 by furtherassembling the remaining un-illustrated components of transfer case 26,with the components generally stacking together to retain fluid pump 28in position.

When fluid pump 28 is positioned within pump cavity 22 in the abovedescribed manner, lugs 30 are positioned on or received by tab members50 and partially surrounded by wall members 54. Notably, in theillustrated embodiment, wall members 54 are provided only on one edge orside of tab members 50 such that support members 38 generally form anL-shape with wall members 54 positioned only about one end or side oflugs 30. Because the output shaft predominantly or only turns in onedirection, which is clockwise in the view shown in FIG. 4, fluid pump 28is mainly or only biased in that direction. Wall members 54, therefore,are positioned to inhibit the lugs 30 from contacting housing caused bythis one way or predominant directional movement of fluid pump 28. Itshould be appreciated, however, that an alternative bracket may havesupport members with two bumper members or wall members located distallyfrom each other on a tab member to form a generally C-shaped supportmember adapted to surround both sides or ends of lugs, as well as extendbetween the lugs and the portion of ledge located in indent portions.

With lugs 30 positioned on tab members 50 and partially surrounded bywall members 54 within indent portions 32 as described above, the lugs30 are generally inhibited from contacting housing 24. Bracket 20 isthus able to limit or inhibit wear of housing 24 caused by the relativemotion of fluid pump 28 resulting from rotation of the output shaft.Bracket 20 advantageously inhibits such wear by, in addition toinhibiting lugs 30 from contacting housing 24, occupying additionalspace within indent portions 32 to limit the amount of possible movementby a lug 30 within an indent portion 32. In addition, in the illustratedembodiment, the intersection of wall members 54 to tab members 50 isradiused, thereby substantially avoiding sharp edges or corners thatmight otherwise be driven into or against housing 24 to create highercontact stresses. Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 4, wall members 54define a larger contact area against housing 24 as compared to the sidesor ends of lugs 30 such that bracket 20 decreases the contact stressagainst housing 24, thereby further inhibiting wear.

Referring now to FIG. 10, an alternative bracket 120 is illustrated thatis of substantially similar construction to bracket 20 discussed above,with the similar components or elements of bracket 120 being shown withsimilar reference numbers, but with 100 added to the reference numbersof bracket 20 of FIGS. 1-3. It should be understood that, because of thesimilarity of the illustrated brackets 20, 120, not all of the specificconstruction and alternatives of like referenced parts will be discussedin the following discussion of bracket 120.

Bracket 120 includes six mounting holes 190 disposed about base member136. Mounting holes 190 are formed to align with fasteners 76 of fluidpump 28 (FIGS. 8 and 9) used to secure together the first and secondplates 72, 74 of fluid pump 28. Bracket 120, therefore, is optionallymountable to fluid pump 28 by way of fasteners 76 such that bracket 120and fluid pump 28 are fixedly secured together prior to positioningwithin pump cavity 22 of transfer case 26.

Although bracket 20 is illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 as being generallyring-shaped and including four support members 38, each of which includea tab member 50 and a single generally perpendicularly oriented wallmember 54, it should be appreciated that alternative brackets may beconstructed and still function as intended within the scope of thepresent invention. For example, a bracket may be formed to havealternatively configured bumper members, such as, for example, a rolledportion, a narrower upright member, a double-walled portion, or thelike. An alternative bracket may include fewer support members and/ormay include bumper members on fewer than all of the support members. Asnoted above, a support member may be formed to include two bumpermembers or wall members to surround both ends of a fluid pump lug, suchas a support member formed to have a generally C-shaped configuration.Further, an alternative bracket may be formed that is positioned into apump cavity or about a fluid pump after the fluid pump has beenpositioned into the pump cavity. For example, such a bracket may bedisposed or positioned about the outer periphery of the flange and lugsof a fluid pump.

Although shown and described relative to a model 246GM transfer case, itshould also be appreciated that bracket 20 may also be used with othertransfer cases produced by or for the General Motors Corp. such as, forexample, a GM model 236, 269, 136, and 261 transfer cases. Further,bracket 20 may even be used with one or more transfer cases produced byor for the Daimler-Chrysler Corp. of Detroit, Mich., or other automobileor transfer case producers. Such General Motors and Daimler-ChryslerCorp. transfer cases being manufactured by the New Venture Gear companyof Troy, Mich. Still further, alternative brackets may be constructedwithin the scope of the present invention for use with fluid pumps andtransfer case housings of other makes and models of transfer casesproduced by GM, or Daimler-Chrysler, or other vehicle manufacturers.Such alternative brackets, for example, may be used with differentlyconfigured transfer case housings, pump cavities, and fluid pumps andmay be generally non-circular, include more or fewer support members, oralternatively spaced support members, or support members that aredisposed about or at differing angles relative to a base member.

The bracket of the present invention is adapted for installation into apump cavity located in a housing of a transfer case such that thebracket is positioned between the housing and a fluid pump. The bracketincludes support members that are positionable within indent portions ofthe pump cavity, with the support members adapted to receive or engageprojections or lugs on the fluid pump. When so received, the fluid pumplugs of the fluid pump are inhibited by the bracket support members fromcontacting the housing. The bracket is thus able to inhibit wear of thetransfer case housing that may otherwise occur due to relative movementof the fluid pump against the housing caused by an output shaft of thetransfer case used to drive the fluid pump. The bracket, therefore, aidsin preventing holes from being formed in the housing that would enablethe lubrication fluid within the transfer case to leak out and result indamage to the internal components of the transfer case.

Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments canbe carried out without departing from the principles of the presentinvention which is intended to be limited only by the scope of theappended claims, as interpreted according to the principles of patentlaw including the doctrine of equivalents.

1. A bracket for use with a fluid pump in a transfer case of a vehicle,the fluid pump being at least partially received within a pump cavity ofthe transfer case housing, said bracket comprising: a base member, saidbase member to contacting an exterior surface of the fluid pump andbeing positioned between the fluid pump and the transfer case housingwhen the fluid pump is assembled into the pump cavity of the transfercase housing; and at least one support member extending from said basemember, said at least one support member including a tab member, saidtab member being generally coplanar with said base member and beingreceived within an indent portion of the pump cavity when said bracketis installed within the pump cavity; said at least one support member atleast partially inhibiting the fluid pump from contacting the transfercase housing proximate the indent portion of the pump cavity.
 2. Thebracket of claim 1, wherein said at least one support member includes atleast one bumper member, said at least one bumper member adapted tobeing disposed between the fluid pump and the indent portion of the pumpcavity.
 3. The bracket of claim 2, wherein said at least one bumpermember comprises a wall member, said wall member being oriented nonplanar relative to said tab member.
 4. The bracket of claim 3, whereinsaid wall member is oriented generally perpendicular relative to saidtab member whereby said wall member and said tab member are positionedbetween a lug of the fluid pump when the lug is received within theindent portion of the pump cavity.
 5. The bracket of claim 1, whereinsaid base member includes a through hole, said through hole beingadapted to enable an output shaft to engage the fluid pump.
 6. Thebracket of claim 1, wherein said base member is generally ring shapedand includes a generally circular outer perimeter and a generallycircular inner perimeter, and wherein said bracket is positioned on aledge portion of the pump cavity when said bracket is installed withinthe pump cavity.
 7. The bracket of claim 1, wherein said base memberincludes an outer perimeter, and wherein said at least one supportmember extends outwardly from said outer perimeter.
 8. The bracket ofclaim 7, wherein said outer perimeter is generally circular, and whereinsaid at least one support member extends generally radially outward. 9.The bracket of claim 1, wherein said at least one support membercomprises four support members, and wherein each said support member isreceived within separate indent portions of the pump cavity when saidbracket is installed within the pump cavity.
 10. The bracket of claim 9,wherein said base member is generally ring shaped and includes agenerally circular outer perimeter, and wherein said support membersextend generally radially outwardly from said outer perimeter, saidsupport members being disposed asymmetrically about said outerperimeter.
 11. The bracket of claim 1, wherein said base member includesat least one mounting hole to enable said bracket to be mounted to thefluid pump.
 12. A bracket for use with a fluid pump in a transfer caseof a vehicle, the fluid pump being at least partially received within apump cavity of the transfer case housing, said bracket comprising: abase member, said base member being generally ring shaped and includinga generally circular outer perimeter, said base member contacting anexterior surface of the fluid pump and being positioned between thefluid pump and the transfer case housing when the fluid pump isassembled into the pump cavity of the transfer case housing; and aplurality of support members extending from said base member, each saidsupport member including a tab member and a wall member with said tabmembers extending radially outwardly from said outer perimeter of saidbase member and said wall members being oriented generally perpendicularrelative to said tab members, and with each said support member beingreceived within separate indent portions of the pump cavity; saidsupport members at least partially inhibiting lug portions of the fluidpump from contacting the transfer case housing proximate the indentportions of the pump cavity.
 13. A bracket in combination with a fluidpump in a transfer case of a vehicle comprising: a transfer case fluidpump, said fluid pump being at least partially received within a pumpcavity of a transfer case housing when said fluid pump is assembled intothe pump cavity; and a bracket, said bracket comprising a base memberand a support member, said base member contacting an exterior surface ofsaid fluid pump and to being positioned between said fluid pump and thetransfer case housing when said fluid pump is assembled into the pumpcavity of the transfer case housing; said support member extendinggenerally radially outwardly from said base member and being receivedwithin an indent portion of the pump cavity when said bracket isinstalled within the pump cavity; said support member to at leastpartially inhibiting said fluid pump from contacting the transfer casehousing proximate the indent portion of the pump cavity.
 14. The bracketand fluid pump of claim 13, wherein said base member is generally ringshaped and said support member includes a tab member radially extendingfrom said base member.
 15. The bracket and fluid pump of claim 14,wherein said support member further includes a wall member extendinggenerally perpendicularly from said tab member.
 16. The bracket andfluid pump of claim 13, wherein said bracket is formed from sheet metal.17. The bracket and fluid pump of claim 13 further including a pluralityof support members extending generally radially outwardly from said basemember, and wherein each said support member is received within separateindent portions of the pump cavity when said bracket is installed withinthe pump cavity.